Androgenic compounds and methods of preparing the same



nited ANDRUGENIC CDMPUUNDS METHiIiDS F PBEPARENG THE SAME Louis Freedman, Mount Vernon, and Seymour L. Shapiro, Hastings on Hudson, N. Y., assignors to U. S. Vitamin Corporation, New York, N. Y a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application Juiy 7, i955 erial No. 520,627

3 Claims. (Cl. %135} This invention relates to new derivatives of the andro gens, testosterone (otherwise known as A -androsten-U- fi-ol-3one), and andr0stane-17(/3)ol-3-one, which sterols will sometimes be referred to hereinafter by the following generic structural formula:

Testosterone Androstane-17(fl)-ol-3-one the latter sterol also sometimes called stanolone.

It is known that the androgenic activity of the abovementioned sterols is sometimes increased when they are converted to esters, one example being the propionic acid ester of testosterone; but it was desirable for clinical significance and utility, considerably to augment the androgenic activity of these compounds and to obtain androgenic activity of longer duration than that of the ester or the sterol itself. This we have accomplished in accordance with the invention herein described. 7

Particularly, this invention relates to ti-halogenated propionyl esters of said sterols; and for these new compounds the structure of the D ring or the generic formula may be shown as wherein R is a e-halogen'ated propionyl radicle. cally, the new compounds are:

I -d om:ornol .atent l) ice in of:

the B-bromopropionate where R stands for I -i)-CH;--OH2Br and the fl-iodopropionate where R stands for As will be later pointed out in detail, we have discovered that our new compounds, i. e., the [3l1alogenated propionates of these sterols, have surprisingly enhanced androgenic activity over either of the sterols or testosterone propionate. The specificity of the beta position of the halogen is important with respect to prolonged androgenic activity since it is known that testosterone u-chloropropionate provides an androgenic response inferior to testosterone propionate itself.

Gur invention also encompasses new compositions for parenteral administration comprising sterile solutions of our new compounds in a non-toxic fatty ester; such as a glyceride oil, with or without the addition of a preservative to prevent bacterial growth.

Our invention includes the provision of novel processes of making our new products.

These may be broadly stated as reacting the androgen with a fi-halopropionyl chloride in the presence of a tertiary base such as pyridine, or other suitable acid acceptor.

The following examples are illustrative of the process for preparing ,B-halo-propionyl A -and1'osten-1'/-/ .X'Y-Gione and androstane-17-fi-oXy-3-one derivatives although it is to be understood that modification may be made Within the scope of the appended claims. T e androgen derivatives thus processed have the structural formula sten-l7-,B-oxy-3-one and androstane-17-B-oxy-3-one and Y is halogen.

EXAMPLE l. TESTOSTERONE-fl-CHLOROPRO- PIONATE A solution of ml. of ,8-chloropropionylchloride in 600 ml. of dry toluene was cooled to 10 C. A solution of 24 g. of testosterone in 200 ml. of dry pyridine and 800 ml. of toluene was added dropwise with stirring and continued cooling. After the addition was complete the mixture was maintained at room temperature and stirred for an additional time of about 20 hours. A ter addition of 350 m1. of water, the toluene layer was arated and successively washed with water, dilute chloric acid, a dilute solution of sodium bicarbonate, and finally with water.

The toluene solution was then dried with anhydrous magnesium sulphate, filtered and the filtrate concentrated, in vacuo. The solid residue was dried in vacuo at about C. and recrystallized from heptane.

Testosterone ,B-bromopropionate and the analogous iodo-compound can be made in the same way; although V we have found it more simple to make the latter by replacement, in accordance with the following exam-pie.

EXAMPLE 2. TEsTosrERONE-p-Io1)orao- PIONATE This compound was prepared from the bromo ester by replacement of the bromine by iodine, as follows:

One gram of testosterone-B-bromopropionate was dissolved in 5 m1. of acetone, and 50 ml. of a 15% sodiumiodide-in-acetone solution was added. After standing for 2 days, the soditun bromide was filtered off. The filtrate was concentrated to 25 ml. and diluted with ml. of water. Upon standing, crystals formed which were sepw arated, dried in vacuo and recrystallized from heptane. The testosterone derivatives produced as above were each in the form of white crystals, the respective yields, melting points and analyses being as follows:

Testosterone-deliloropropionate Yield, 65% of theoretical; M. R, 154-1545 C. Analysis.Calcd. for C H O Cl: C, 69.7; H, 8.2. Found: C, 69.2; H, 8.2.

Testosterone-fibre;opi'opioriofe Yield, 67% of theoretical; M. 3., 153-1535 C. Analysis.Calcd. for G T-1 131": C, 62.4; H, 7.34. Found: C, 61.93; H, 7.61.

Testosterone-,8-iodopropionate EXAMF'LE 3.STANOLONE-[i-CHLOROPRO- PIONATE A solution of 9 ml. of fi-ohloropropionyl chloride in 120 ml. of dry toluene was cooled to l0 C. A solution of g. of stanolone in 150 ml. of dry toluene, and ml. of dry pyridine was added dropwise with stirring to the cooled mixture. After the addition was cornpleted, the reaction was maintained at room temperature with stirring for 18 hours. After addition of 120 ml. of water. the toluene layer was separated, and washed as described in Example 1. The toluene solution was then dried over anhydrous magnesium sulphate, filtered and the filtrate concentrated to dryness in vacuo. The residue was recrystallized from heptane.

in the case of the stanolone compounds also, the products obtained were each in the form of White crystals, with. the following results:

Stanolone-[u chloropropionaze Yield, 60% of theoretical; M. 1 102-104 C.

Analysis.-Calcd. for 0 111 0 01; 0, 69.38; H, 8.67.

Found: C, 69.40; H, 8.73.

Sumolone-fl-bromopropionare oil, cottonseed oil, sesame oil, ethyl oleate and the like. The finely powdered esters dissolve directly in the oil, upon gentle warming and stirring.

EXAMPLE 4.-OIL SOLUTIONS OF HALO ESTERS A charge of 3.1 g. of testosterone-cromopropionate (finely powdered) is added to 100 ml. of corn oil and the mixture warmed gently to effect solution. The clear oil solution, containing 31 mg. of testosterone-fi-bromopropionate per milliliter, may be rendered sterile by filtration through a Selas (or equivalent) bacterial. filter, and may be treated for purposes of preservation with 5 mg. of chlorobutanol per milliliter of solution.

In a similar manner, corn oil solutions suitable for injection have been prepared of testosterone-{B-iodopropionate, and testosterone-fi-chloropropionate; and of the e-chloropropionate, fi-bromopropionate, and fi-iodopropionate of stanolone. Or, if desired, solutions of the B-halopropionates may be made in ethyl oleate. Such solvents will be herein referred to generally as non-toxic fatty esters.

Typical solutions in oil for experimental and therapeutic use have been prepared by dissolving the following quantities of the new esters of this invention in 100 cc. of thefatty ester:

Grams Testosterone-[i-chloropropionate a- 1 2.77 Testosterone-fl-bromopropionate a- 1 3.10 Testosterone-fi-iodopropionate 1 3.44

Weight equivalent to 25 mg. of testosteronepropionatc/cc.

Grams Stanolone-{i-chloropropionate 2.79 Stanolone-fi-bromopropionate 2 3.12 Stanolone-{i-iodopropionatc 2 3.46

2 Weight equivalent to 21 mg. of stanolone/cc.

The androgenic activities of these f5-halogenatcd propionates as compared to the previously known tin-halogenated compounds, on the comparative weight basis above indicated, were determined by the increase in the weights of the seminal vesicles and the anterior prostate respectively of castrated rats after 11 to 22 days in the tests with the testosterone compounds, and after 7 to 33 days with the stanolone compounds, respectively. The weights are expressed as milligrams of glands per kilogram of body weight at the time of sacrificing the animals.

Composite results for the testosterone compounds are shown in Table I, in which castrated mature rats were injected subcutaneously on the first day of the test with a quantity of the respective compounds corresponding to 7.5 mg. per rat of testosterone dissolved in corn oil. At the end of each period of days indicated, three of the animals were sacrificed and the seminal vesicles and anterior prostate glands excised and weighed.

TABLE I Wt. of Seminal Vesicles in mgJkg. 0 Wt. of Anterior Prostate in rug/kg. on

Day Post Injection 7 Day Post Injection Compound Percent Percent 11 15 19 22 Increase 11 15 19 22 Increase After 11 After 15 Days Days Testosterone-propionate .Q 1, 631 1 154 637 527 (Dental 898 1, 102 599 295 Centre;

. 0 Testosterone-fi-chloropropionate 3, 280 1, 522 596 922 101 l, 292 1, 520 468 839 38 Testosterone-flbromopropionate. 3, 708 2, 966 2, 245 836 126 1. 013 1, 624 1, 125 644 .8 Testosterone-fl-iodopropionate 3, 371 2 742 1, 961 1, 263 107 1, 178 1, 282 1, 427 907 17 Analysis.-Calcd. for C H O I: C, 55.93; C, 6.99. Found: C, 56.39; H, 6.75.

' For therapeutic use, oil solutions of the halo-esters described above can be prepared by dissolving the ester in a non-toxic fatty ester, or glyceride oil suitable for parenterial administration such as corn oil, saffiower oil, peanut TABLE II Wt. of Seminal Vesicles in mgJkg. on Wt. of Anterior Prostate in mgJkg. on Day Post Injection Day Post Injection Compound Percent Percent 7 26 33 Increase 7 15 26 33 Increase After 15 After 15 Days Days Stanolone 620 265 93 96 00113 547 361 73 39 Oont1(8)1 Stanolone-fi-chloropropionate.. 522 l, 530 970 765 478 418 1,200 784 685 250 Stanolone-B-bromopropionate 556 1, 560 1.125 584 487 336 1,280 848 965 254 Stanolone-B-iodoproplonate 614 1,370 973 757 418 480 1,202 1,195 815 232 O 15 and g 0- -GHr-CH2-Y From the above it will be apparent that esterification of these sterols with a fi-halogenated propionic acid results in an enhanced activity surprisingly greater than that of the ester, which itself is more active than the sterol alcohol. For example, testosterone ,B-halopropionates which we have prepared were found to give far greater and more prolonged androgenic response than testoswhere Y 1s halogen. terone proplonate. Likewise, the fl-halopropionates of stanolone gave a greater and more prolonged response than did stanolone.

A typical dose as used clinically is 25-50 mg. of our new androgen derivative parenterally administered as a sterile corn oil solution processed as described above.

What we claim is:

1. Androgen derivatives which are a member of the group consisting of Cag Testosterone fi-chloropropionate. Testosterone fi-bromopropionate. Testosterone [i-iodopropionate. Androstane-17-fi-ol-3-one p-chloropropionate. Androstane-17-fi-ol-3-one fl-bromopropionate. The process of making compounds claimed in claim 1, which comprises reacting the androgen with the fl-halogenated propionyl chloride and in the presence of an acid acecptor such as pyridine, and recovering the {3- halogenated propionate of the androgen.

8. Therapeutic compositions suitable for parenteral administration, comprising a sterile solution of any compound claimed in claim 1, in an non-toxic fatty ester.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,109,400 Miescher Feb. 22, 1938 2,566,358 Ott Sept. 4, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES Dordoni: Chem. Abst. 46, column 5068 (1952). Gallinovsky: Monatsh., 84, 193-8 (1953). 

1. ANDROGEN DERIVATIVES WHICH ARE A MEMBER OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF
 8. THERAPEUTIC COMPOSITIONS SUITABLE FOR PARENTERAL ADMINISTRATION, COMPRISING A STERILE SOLUTION OF ANY COMPOUND CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1, IN AN NON-TOXIC FATTY ESTER. 